do your mushing in private," said Kate. "I don't need a
demonstration to convince me. He looks from the picture like a man who
would be as soft as a frosted pawpaw."

Nancy Ellen's face flamed crimson. "You hateful spite-cat!" she cried.

Then she picked up the picture and laid it face down in her drawer,
while two big tears ran down her cheeks. Kate saw those also.
Instantly she relented.

"You big silly goose!" she said. "Can't you tell when any one is
teasing? I think I never saw a finer face than the one in that
picture. I'm jealous because I never left home a day before in all my
life, and the minute I do, here you go and have such luck. Are you
really sure of him, Nancy Ellen?"

"Well, he asked Father and Mother, and I've been to visit his folks,
and he told them; and I've been with him to Hartley hunting a house;
and I'm not to teach this winter, so I can have all my time to make my
clothes and bedding. Father likes him fine, so he is going to give me
money to get all I need. He offered to, himself."

Kate finished her braid, pulled the combings from the comb and slowly
wrapped the end of her hair as she digested these convincing facts.
She swung the heavy braid around her head, placed a few pins, then
crossed to her sister and laid a shaking hand on her shoulder. Her
face was working strongly.

"Nancy Ellen, I didn't mean one ugly word I said. You gave me an awful
surprise, and that was just my bald, ugly Bates way of taking it. I
think you are one of the most beautiful women I ever have seen, alive
or pictured. I have always thought you would make a fine marriage, and
I am sure you will. I haven't a doubt that Robert Gray is all you
think him, and I am as glad for you as I can be. You can keep house in
Hartley for two with scarcely any work at all, and you can have all the
pretty clothes you want, and time to wear them. Doctors always get
rich if they are good ones, and he is sure to be a good one, once he
gets a start. If only we weren't so beastly healthy there are enough
Bates and Langs to support you for the first year. And I'll help you
sew, and do all I can for you. Now wipe up and look your handsomest!"

Nancy Ellen arose and put her arms around Kate's neck, a stunningly
unusual proceeding. "Thank you," she said. "That is big and fine of
you. But I always have shirked and put my work on you; I guess now
I'll quit, and do my sewing myself."

Then she slipped the pink dress o